First National Bank of Durango and Prairiefire Percherons provide a historical ride for this year's La Plata County Fair royalty.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
The Veterans of Foreign Wars ride in one of the first floats in the Bayfield 4th of July parade and receive warm applause from the crowd.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
Jace Anderson, left, Ethan Candelaria, center, and Cash McCombs are dancing cows in this year's La Plata-Archuleta Cattlemen and Cowbelles float in the Bayfield 4th of July parade.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
Cillian Thuber, four months, enjoys her first Independence Day parade in front of the Pine River Times office on Monday. She is the daughter of Danielle and Brayton Thurber of Bayfield.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
The Evers family float is always a grand affair in the Bayfield parade, and this year's version features the Statue of Liberty and a military tank.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
Chrystianne Valdez, San Ignacio Fiesta Queen, waves at the crowd from the parade.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
The Bayfield Lions Club is well-known for serving its pancake breakfast on the 4th of July, but the club also makes donations to various local causes and scholarships all year and sponsors the KidSight eye screening program.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
Derek Hillyer of Southwest Ag uses some big equipment to haul some big Kubota tractors in Bayfield's annual parade.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
James Chenowith, a member of the Bayfield Middle School cross country team, gets off to a speedy start Monday in the Firecracker 5K in Bayfield.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
While the Firecracker 5K at the start of Bayfield's 4th celebrations attracts some serious runners, there also are lots of walkers out enjoying the day. Proceeds from this year's event benefit the Bayfield Family Center and Pine River Shares programs.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
Members of Calvary Presbyterian Church serve about 150 pies during their annual sale on the 4th of July.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
Dancers from La Plata County Independent Youth Performing Arts perform some swirling moves on Monday. They are led by director Sharon Hunter, left.
Photo by Carole McWilliams
With dancing Superwomen, Uncle Sams, and the Statue of Liberty, what else do you need to celebrate on the Momentum Fitness float?
Photo by Carole McWilliams
Mackenzie Tarkington and Cindy Hemphill are mermaids joining the sharks undersea in the Billy Goat Saloon float, which won the parade's humor award.
Photo by Melanie Brubaker Mazur
Bella Zielinski, left, and Jordyn Lott, right, and pony Chiefly are ready for the Mill Street Drug pet parade.
Photo by Carole McWilliams
The Shriner Tin Lizzies are always popular, including in front of this year's large crowd in Bayfield.
Photo by Carole McWilliams
La Plata County Democrats include this gigantic Uncle Sam in Bayfield.
Photo by Carole McWilliams
Vallecito's fireworks on Saturday evening sparkle over the lake.
Photo courtesy Denise Hess
It was a grand day in Bayfield for the town's annual Independence Day celebration on Monday. People packed the Lions Club pancake breakfast and then filled the sidewalks along Mill Street for the parade. Also before the parade was the Firecracker 5K run and family walk through downtown.
The Lions Club served 660 pancake breakfasts this year. That figure is not a record, but it is on the higher side of attendees. Next door, members of Calvary Presbyterian Church served 150 pies, ranging from cream and meringue to fruit and pecan.
Live music and activities continued in Joe Stephenson Park, with vendors, the Pine River Centennial Rotary beer garden, softball, and the town's inaugural cornhole tournament which kept players in the park to late afternoon. The Serrano family hosted the annual horseshoe tournament in Eagle Park.
Wild Country played in the afternoon and again in the evening as spectators returned for the fireworks sponsored by First National Bank of Durango. Mack Coker from Riverside RV Park leads the set-up, shooting, and takedown of the fireworks displays at Vallecito and in Bayfield.
This year's parade winners were:
Most patriotic - Dennis Evers FamilyMost humorous - Billy Goat SaloonMost creative - Bayfield Realty.Bryan and Becky Eisenbraun won the corn hole tournament, and James Torrez and Dennis Whedbee were the winners in the Serranos' annual horseshoe tournament. "The 4th was extremely successful," Town Manager Chris La May said. "It went as smoothly as it could go, very safe, no one injured, no lost children, no heat exhaustion, no over-consumption, everyone very well behaved. It was an impressive event. We should be proud of what we did."
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